Sometimes, even when you follow all the rules and employ every trick in the book, you’ll still end up with a less-than-perfect faux glow. But before you resign yourself to Oompa Loompa status for good, know this: there is a cure—five cures, in fact.
Click through the slideshow above for five easy fixes for all your self-tanning nightmares!
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The first thing to do if you notice streaks and blotches? Exfoliate. An exfoliating body scrub, like Bliss’ Lemon and Sage Body Scrub ($15), will help buff away any oversaturated color. It’s also the first thing you should do before you apply sunless tanner if you want an even glow.
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Mix together fresh lemon juice with a few tablespoon of baking soda until the mixture becomes a paste. Then, shower and use your DIY exfoliator to brighten any streaks or too-dark sections. Baking soda is the perfect gentle exfoliator, while lemon is naturally acidic and acts a super-gentle version of bleach to lighten unwanted color.
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So you’re out of baking soda—a plain lemon will do. Cut a lemon in half, dip the exposed end into a small amount of brown sugar (the perfect body exfoliator), and gently rub it over any zebra-like parts. Then, just rinse off and apply moisturizer as usual.
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Sometimes, filling in the gaps is more effective than trying to remove the color. In this case, we recommend using a temporary instant self-tanner, like Clinique’s Self Sun Body Tinted Lotion ($29) or Clarins’ Self Tanning Instant Gel ($40), and adding instant color to any sections you may have missed.
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If you’re prone to overdoing it on sunless tanner, keep a product specifically meant for fixing misshaps on hand, like St. Tropez’s Tan Remover ($19). One note—these work best when used as soon as possible after you notice streakiness, so don’t plan on a snooze sesh after applying your sunless tanner.
Click here for our favorite self-tanning tricks!